# US 2014/0151062 A1 · Wellhead Flowback Control System and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151062 A1 - Document ID: US20140151062A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,839 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Stanley V. STEPHENSON; Joseph A. BEISEL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151062A1 ## CPC - E21B 21/01: Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes - E21B 34/08: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) - E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A wellbore servicing system disposed at a wellbore, the wellbore servicing system comprising at least one wellbore servicing equipment component, wherein a flow path extends from the wellbore servicing system component into the wellbore, and a flow-back control system, wherein the flow-back control system is disposed along the flow path, and wherein the flow-back control system is configured to allow fluid communication via the flow path in a first direction at not less than a first rate and to allow fluid communication via the flow path in a second direction at not more than a second rate, wherein the first rate is greater than the second rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wellbore servicing system disposed at a wellbore, the wellbore servicing system comprising: at least one wellbore servicing equipment component, wherein a flow path extends from the wellbore servicing system component into the wellbore, and a flow-back control system, wherein the flow-back control system is disposed along the flow path, and wherein the flow-back control system is configured to allow fluid communication via the flow path in a first direction at not less than a first rate and to allow fluid communication via the flow path in a second direction at not more than a second rate, wherein the first rate is greater than the second rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the wellbore servicing equipment component comprises a mixer, a pump, a wellbore services manifold, a storage vessel, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the first direction is generally into the wellbore. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the second direction is generally out of the wellbore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the first rate comprises a relatively high rate and the second rate comprises a relatively low rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the flow-back control system comprises a fluidic diode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The wellbore servicing system of claim 6, wherein the fluidic diode comprises a relatively high-resistance entry and a relatively low-resistance entry. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The wellbore servicing system of claim 6, wherein the fluidic diode generally defines a diode flow path, wherein the diode flow path is in fluid communication with the flow path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wellbore servicing system of claim 8, wherein the diode flow path comprises a primary diode flowpath and one or more secondary diode flow paths, wherein flow in the first direction is along the primary diode flowpath and flow in the second direction is along the one or more secondary diode flow paths. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wellbore servicing system of claim 8, wherein the diode flow path comprises a plurality of island-like projections or more protrusions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The wellbore servicing system of claim 8, wherein the diode flow path comprises a nozzle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The wellbore servicing system of claim 8, wherein the diode flow path comprises a vortex. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the flow-back control system comprises no moving parts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The wellbore servicing system of claim 6, wherein the fluidic diode has a flow path as shown in any one of FIGS. 3-7. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wellbore servicing system of claim 1, wherein the first rate is at least 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12 times greater than the second flow rate. ### Claim 16 A wellbore servicing method comprising: providing a flow path between a wellbore servicing system and a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein a flow-back control system comprising a fluidic diode is disposed along the flow path at the surface of the subterranean formation; and communicating a fluid via the flow path in a first direction at not less than a first rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising allowing a fluid to flow through at least a portion of the flow path in a second direction, wherein fluid flowing through the flow path in the second direction is communicated at a rate of not more than a second rate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first rate comprises a relatively high rate and the second rate comprises a relatively low rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first direction is generally into the wellbore and the second direction is generally out of the wellbore. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein movement of fluid through the fluidic diode in the first direction may be characterized as relatively low-resistance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein movement of fluid through the fluidic diode in the second direction may be characterized as relatively high-resistance. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein movement of fluid through the fluidic diode in the first direction may be characterized as relatively continuous and uninterrupted. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein movement of fluid through the fluidic diode in the second direction may be characterized as contributing to the formation of eddies, cross-currents, counter-currents, or combinations thereof, wherein the eddies, cross-currents, counter-currents, or combinations thereof interfere with fluid movement in the second direction.